1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
2
: a share especially as determined by supply
rationed; rationing
ˈra-sh(ə-)niŋ 
ˈrā-
1
: to supply with or put on rations
2
a
: to distribute as rations
—often used with out
b
: to distribute equitably
c
: to use sparingly
Examples of ration in a Sentence
Noun
The soldiers were given their rations for the day.
The horse was fed its ration of oats.
weekly sugar and butter rations
Verb
During the war, the government rationed gasoline.
the region has had to ration water during times of drought
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Times, 16 May 2026
Shops have closed and food rations have run low.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Brad Brooks, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Energy prices have surged due to the disruption to supplies, prompting governments to ration fuel and raising fears of an economic downturn as inflation builds.
—Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ration
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Noun
The economy recovered by the late 1990s, with the military reinvesting its profits into the country to support hospitals, education and government food rations.
—New York Times, 16 May 2026
Shops have closed and food rations have run low.
—ABC News, 13 May 2026
Verb
Miller recalled stories of American resilience during World War II, when goods were rationed and households lived with less.
—Brad Brooks, USA Today, 16 May 2026
Energy prices have surged due to the disruption to supplies, prompting governments to ration fuel and raising fears of an economic downturn as inflation builds.
—Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for ration
Cite this Entry
“Ration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ration. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
a
: a food allowance for one day
b
plural
: provision entry 1 sense 2
2
: the amount one is allowed by authority
ration
2 of 2 verb
rationed; rationing
ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ
ˈrāsh-
1
: to control the amount one can use
during the war the government rationed gasoline
2
: to use sparingly
ration your water on the hike
Medical Definition
ration
2 of 2 transitive verb
rationed; rationing
ˈrash-(ə-)niŋ
ˈrāsh-
ˈrāsh-
: to supply with or put on rations
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